Snapshot
- Name and role: Alexander Nielsen, R&D Site Manager
- Location: Värnamo, Sweden
- At Trelleborg since: 2016
- Area of expertise: R&D, product realization, project management, tooling and technical innovation
The journey
I joined Trelleborg in February 2016 as a Project Engineer in the Operations organization in Värnamo, working on investments in new production equipment and providing technical support to manufacturing. It was a good fit from day one: I was able to combine technology, problem-solving and close collaboration with production teams.
I’ve never left Värnamo, but the job has changed a lot. In 2017, I became Product Realization Manager. In 2020, I was Tooling Manager for Extrusion Elastomer for EMEA, and in 2023, Manager Tooling & Project Management for EMEA. At one point, I was responsible for tooling and project work across five production sites within Sealing Profiles EMEA. Since January 2026, I have been the R&D Site Manager in Värnamo.
My work has evolved from running local technical projects to leading teams and supporting sites across Europe. That is where I learned most about managing change, without losing the strong technical foundation on which I built my career.
I have stayed with Trelleborg over the years because there is always a new challenge and something new to learn. My managers and colleagues trust and support me, and that has allowed me to take on new roles. What excites me today is much the same as when I started: working with talented people and turning ideas into something that can make a difference to our business.
Behind the expertise
One of the biggest challenges today is that everything is happening at once. We are implementing a new ERP system, transferring production between sites and ensuring knowledge is passed on as experienced employees retire. All the while, we have to keep delivering projects, supporting customers and driving innovation.
Artificial intelligence is probably the most exciting development. It is already part of our daily work and can improve how we develop products and manage projects. Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important, driven by both customer expectations and regulation.
Preparing for what comes next is as much about people as it is about technology. We need strong teams and new competencies, and we need to keep investing in new technologies and ways of working.
For me, expertise is more than technical knowledge. It means being curious and understanding the details, but also knowing how to apply that knowledge, solve problems and help the team get results.
Beyond work
Outside work, I spend time with my family and take on ambitious DIY projects. My biggest project right now is building a house, largely by myself. It has taught me everything from construction and project planning to advanced energy systems. What I enjoy most is designing the technical solutions, like my own heating and hot water system. It’s probably not what people expect from someone in an R&D leadership role!
There’s quite a bit of overlap between how I approach these projects and how I work. Whether it’s a heating system, a construction project or a technical challenge at the office, I tend to follow the same process: understand the problem, evaluate the alternatives and find the most practical solution.
My wife is still not entirely sure what I actually do at work. She would probably describe me as a “Transponster,” a reference to the TV show Friends!
Quick facts
- Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.
- Early bird or night owl? Definitely an early bird. I’m usually one of the first people in the office.
- Best part of your job? Working with talented people to solve challenges and seeing ideas develop into real products, processes and improvements that create value for our customers.
